Facilities will be ready for 2025 Canada Summer Games kickoff, say officials

In a year and a half, athletes from across Canada will descend upon the St. John's area for the 2025 Canada Summer Games — and while construction of new facilities began just last year, officials say preparations will be completed by game time.

There are various projects earmarked and underway around the St. John's region, including upgrades to existing infrastructure, including the Aquarena and some sports fields, as well as the construction of new facilities to host events. 

2025 Canada Games Host Society CEO Karen Sherriffs said they are "absolutely" on schedule for August 2025.

"We are currently very much on track to meet the deadlines. Venue readiness and venue preparation is obviously [a] key component. This is the platform that all these athletes come to compete in," she recently told CBC News.

Projects are being closely monitored though a variety of individuals and organizations, she said, and improvements will carry on up to the start of the Games so things are in their "best shape."

Mayor Danny Breen boasts the upcoming Games mean an injection of about $75 million worth in infrastructure into the city and surrounding area, much of which is already underway, including at the Fortis Canada Games Complex.

That's a stone's throw away from the Aquarena, where the ground has been torn up to build a new $40-million track and field complex that will include artificial soccer turf and an indoor training facility.

WATCH | Breen says a Canada Games financial plan with 3 levels of government took a bit of time:

Yes, Canada Games construction could have started earlier, but the money had to get sorted: St. John’s mayor

10 months ago

Duration 0:52

St. John’s is hosting the 2025 Canada Games. Mayor Danny Breen says $75 million is being spent on infrastructure, including upgrades to existing facilities and the building of new ones. While St. John’s was announced as the Games’ home in 2021, it wasn’t until 2023 that construction started — but the mayor insists things are on schedule.

Breen said people can see that work happening now, adding it's going "very well."

After the Games conclude, he said, the province's own soccer teams, including school teams and Memorial University athletes, will be able to use it. He hopes the facility will help build the sport and will be used to host future events.

The project is on schedule to be completed in early 2025 and on budget, Breen said, though he added project costs are often a challenge, whether it's paving a street or building a recreational complex.

"It's something that our staff are working hard on and ensuring that we get there," said Breen.

The city was announced as the host in 2021 and work at the site started this past summer, giving the project a two year-window to wrap up.

"We all would have wanted to start earlier, but you have to remember that there's three levels of government here who have to work out the various cost-sharing arrangements," said Breen.

"We were able to make this work financially through great co-operation from the federal government and provincial government. And these things take time."

Aquarena's upgrades

The Aquarena, on Memorial University's campus in St. John's, will host swimming, diving and artistic swimming events. It was initially built for the 1977 Games — the last time N.L. hosted the summer sporting competition. Its doors are currently closed to the public for upgrades.

In April, CBC News reported that — according to internal documents — Aquarena repair costs had risen for work required to meet Canada Games standards.

University spokesperson Sandy Woolfrey-Fahey told CBC News over email that more details about the project's status will be coming soon.

For now, she said, work has started, with demolition, hazardous materials abatement and the erection of scaffolding.

"Work is proceeding with structural reinforcement, mechanical and electrical work and construction of the new extension which will contain office space and mechanical equipment."

When the work is completed, improvements will include an extended 10-metre diving platform and three-metre diving board, as well as spectator seating, family change room, additional washroom space, new pool bulkheads for swim competitions and a competition clock, Woolfrey-Fahe added.

She also said there will also be mechanical, electrical, lighting, safety and accessibility upgrades.

Funding is strong: Sherriffs

Sherriffs said three levels of government financially support the Games: federal, provincial and municipal. So far, she said, they are on budget too.

"This is trending to be, likely, one of the largest Canada Games ever hosted," she said, pointing out female baseball is being included for the first time, highlighting the Games' efforts to be gender-inclusive.

The host society has 35 people on staff, she said, which will grow to 75 by the time the Games commence, adding they have a large number of volunteers who already sit on 14 different committees focused on planning. 

In March, merchandise will be launched, she said, and when the Games are a year away the society will start the volunteer campaign needed for the event.

"We will require 5,000 game-time volunteers, which is certainly a significant feat. I think we will have around 31,000 shifts that will need to be filled," said Sherriffs.

There was a mascot contest in the fall and the winner has been selected, she said, and it will be revealed in the next few months.

Ready to medal

To get athletes ready for the games, the Newfoundland and Labrador government has given a combined $132,636 to various sport governing bodies.

That's according to an access-to-information request that looked at Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation records from Sept. 1, 2022, to March 6, 2023.

Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts and Recreation spokesperson Gina MacArthur told CBC News over email that in 2020 the provincial government created a Sport Excellence Committee to advise the minister on ways to "enhance" Team N.L. performance at the upcoming Games.

"As part of their work, the committee advises on investments for athlete and sport development for athletes and teams that demonstrate a capacity for excellence in the 2025 Games," she added.

Provincial sport organizations also developed plans to improve athletes' abilities to medal, including funding, MacArthur wrote, and the funding is to be used exclusively for athletes who are eligible to play in the games.

Funding can be used for things like training camps, training and development for team coaches, the costs to compete, mental, technical and physical training, as well as equipment, she said.

According to documents, the smallest amount went to the Golf Newfoundland Labrador, which received $4,000. The highest amount — 28 per cent of the total amount — went to Newfoundland and Labrador Rugby Union, which received $37,000.

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